APC Intensifies 2027 Preparations as Candidate Upload Process Enters Critical Stage Ahead of INEC Deadline:
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections with the commencement of the digital submission of its governorship and State House of Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP).
The nationwide exercise forms part of the party’s efforts to comply with the electoral timetable ahead of the statutory deadline fixed by INEC for the submission of candidates’ particulars.
According to party sources, the upload process is being coordinated from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, where the party’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department has begun processing verified nomination documents received from various state chapters.
Priority is reportedly being given to the party’s 16 incumbent governors seeking re-election, while documentation for newly nominated governorship candidates and State House of Assembly flag bearers is also being processed simultaneously.
The exercise is expected to cover 28 governorship candidates and approximately 993 State House of Assembly candidates across the federation, excluding states operating off-cycle governorship elections.
The affected off-cycle states include Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun, where governorship elections are not scheduled to hold alongside the 2027 general elections.
Party officials disclosed that a special verification mechanism has been established to ensure that every nomination document meets the legal and procedural requirements before being uploaded onto the INEC portal.
The verification committee is responsible for scrutinising nomination forms submitted by state party executives before forwarding them to the ICT unit for electronic submission.
The APC had earlier completed the submission of its presidential and National Assembly candidates, with the current phase focusing on governorship and State Assembly nominations.
The digital submission process is being conducted in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires political parties to submit the names of their candidates together with all statutory affidavits and declaration forms within the period approved by INEC.
Unlike previous electoral cycles, the current legal framework provides little room for alterations after the portal closes, making compliance with the submission deadline a critical responsibility for all political parties.
INEC officially opened the Candidate Nomination Portal on 18 July 2026, while the submission window is expected to close on 8 August 2026, after which no further uploads or manual submissions will be entertained under the law.
Meanwhile, party insiders disclosed that consultations are still ongoing regarding some State House of Assembly nominations following recommendations from the APC Primary Elections Appeal Committee.
The committee reportedly reviewed numerous petitions arising from the party’s primary elections and recommended adjustments in certain constituencies to address disputes and strengthen internal cohesion.
Party leadership is said to be carefully examining the committee’s recommendations before the final submission of candidates to the electoral commission.
With the submission deadline drawing closer, the APC ICT Department is reportedly operating extended working hours to ensure all verified candidates are successfully uploaded without technical or legal complications.
The ongoing exercise represents another significant milestone in the ruling party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections as political parties across the country continue to meet constitutional and electoral requirements ahead of the commencement of campaigns.
